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On Tuesday, I deleted Threads from my phone. And I vowed to stop looking at X. As so often happens when there’s an all-encompassing news cycle, I can get pulled under through splashes and then waves of information.
After the very public and gruesome killing of Charlie Kirk and the reactions and news that followed, I felt trapped in a kind of info riptide.
My instinct in these kinds of news cycles is to unplug completely. But this time it was more — and different — information that helped me swim out of that riptide.
This week, I want to highlight some local reporters whose work has been a lifeline. I’d love to hear from you, too. Respond to this email and tell me whose work is helping keep you afloat right now. Here are several of mine.
Jason Rosenbaum, political reporter, St. Louis Public Radio ([link removed])
Rosenbaum and I worked together at the St. Louis Beacon and I always perk up when I hear him on NPR. That happened yesterday, when he appeared on WAMU’s “1A” ([link removed]) to talk about redistricting in Missouri. I was aware of that news, but it wasn’t until he took the time to explain what’s happening in my home state and all the ways it can play out that I actually understood it. Thank you, Jason!
Margo Snipe, founder, The Stories Within ([link removed])
Snipe is a journalist who stepped out of the industry to help us rest, recover and do some trauma-informed healing and writing coaching. In the bumper-to-bumper, horns blaring, road-raging experience of being on social media, her Instagram posts ([link removed]) feel like benevolent speed bumps that remind me to slow down, take a breath and do something kind for myself. Thank you, Margo!
Sponsored post
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NIHCM Grants Supporting Health Care Journalism
We are now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 cycle of the NIHCM Foundation Health Care Journalism Grant program. NIHCM provides up to $500,000 in funding for:
• Health reporting by national or local digital or broadcast media, nonprofit or for-profit media organizations, and freelancers
• Education for journalists
• Visual storytelling (graphics, short videos)
• Documentary film public engagement campaign
Deadline: October 27, 2025
Learn more and apply at: [link removed]
Lane DeGregory, Tampa Bay Times, and Maria Carrillo, retired ([link removed])
DeGregory and Carillo worked together for years on the “WriteLane” podcast, illuminating good storytelling and journalism. And now it’s back ([link removed]) . Their first episode is a conversation with ProPublica’s Kavitha Surana and her “Life of the Mother” series. What a treat it is to get to listen to smart people talk about great journalism. Thank you, Lane and Maria (and Kavitha!)
Staff, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay ([link removed])
I want to know about the street mural battles ([link removed]) and the latest on open carry laws ([link removed]) , but one thing I love about Tampa Bay’s local alt-weekly is that there’s also always something that’s both informative and delightful. Lately, that includes a photo story about a midcentury atomic round house in Sarasota ([link removed]) ; a piece about Florida’s only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home ([link removed]) , which is up for sale; and the reminder that this Saturday is St. Petersburg’s free museum day
([link removed]) . Thank you, Ray Roa, Selene San Felice and CL Tampa team!
I really do want to hear yours. I might do a shout-out to them next week if I collect enough.
While you’re here:
* Free Press Indiana has a new women and girls reporter ([link removed]) , and why don’t all newsrooms have this?
* Check out this webinar series ([link removed]) from the Institute for Independent Journalists.
* The Mental Health in Journalism Summit ([link removed]) takes place online from Oct. 8-10. Learn more here.
* The Baltimore Banner is expanding to a bureau in Montgomery County ([link removed]) .
That’s it for me. I had a lovely time at ONA in New Orleans and ate beignets at every opportunity. I also need to write a correction and apology. In last week’s newsletter with tips for surviving conferences ([link removed]) , I misspelled my colleague Megan Griffith-Greene’s last name. I’m so sorry!
Kristen
Kristen Hare
Faculty
The Poynter Institute
@kristenhare ([link removed])
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